3-fundamentals - notebooks of paul brunton
DESCRIPTION
fundamentos de la meditacionTRANSCRIPT
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 1/26
PaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundationhomepage>NotebooksofPaulBrunton>Category4:ElementaryMeditation>Chapter3:Fundamentals
Fundamentals
Stopwanderingthoughts
1Thelongestbookonyogacanteachyounothingmoreaboutthepracticalaimofyogathanthis:stillyourthoughts.
2Oneofthecausesofthefailuretogetanyresultsfrommeditationisthatthemeditatorhasnotpractisedlongenough.Infact,thewastageofmuchtimeinunprofitable,distracted,ramblingthinkingseemstobethegeneralexperience.Yetthisisthepreludetotheactualworkofmeditationinitself.Itisanecessaryexcavationbeforethebuildingcanbeerected.Thefactisunpleasantbutmustbeaccepted.Ifthisexperienceofthefirstperiodisfrustratinganddisappointing,theexperienceofthesecondperiodishappyandrewarding.Heshouldreallycountthefirstperiodasapreparation,andnotasadefeat.Ifthepreliminaryperiodissoirksomethatitseemslikeanartificialactivity,andthesubsequentperiodofmeditationitselfissopleasantandeffortlessthatitseemslikeaperfectlynaturalone,themoralis:moreperseveranceandmorepatience.
3Iftheturningwheelofthoughtscanbebroughttoaperfectstandstillwithoutpayingthepenaltyofsleep,theresultswillbethattheThinkerwillcometoknowhimselfinsteadofhisthoughts.
4Meditationisadmittedlyoneofthemostdifficultartstolearn.Themindofhumanityinitspresentdayconditionissorestless,sowandering,andespeciallysoextroverted,thattheefforttobringitundercontrolseemstothebeginnertomeetwithdishearteningresults.Properpatience,righttechnique,andthementalhelpofanexpertareneeded.Inmostcasesittakesseveralyears,butfromexperienceandknowledgetheremaycometheskillandeaseoftheproficientmeditator.
5Itisusefulonlyinthemostelementarystagetoletthoughtsdrifthazilyorhaphazardlyduringtheallottedperiod.Foratthatstage,heneedsmoretomaketheideaofsittingperfectlystillforsometimequiteacceptableinpracticethanheneedstobeginwithdrawalfromthebody'ssense.Hemustfirstgaincommandofhisbodybeforehecangaincommandofhisthoughts.Butinthenextstage,hemustforciblydirectattentiontoasinglesubjectandforciblysustainitthere.Hemustbegintopractisementalmastery,forthiswillnotonlybringhimthespiritualprofitsofmeditationbutalsowillwardoffsomeofitspsychicdangers.
6Arabbleofthoughtspursuehimintothesilenceperiod,asifdeterminedtokeephismindfromeverbecomingstill.
7Donotmisstheobjectofyourmeditationsandloseyourselfinuselessreveries.
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 2/26
8Themoralis,findtheobjectthatmakesmostappealtoyourtemperament,theobjectthatexperienceprovestobemosteffectiveininducingtheconditionofmentalconcentration.
9Thefirstquarterhourisoftensofatiguingtobeginnersthattheylookfor,andeasilyfind,anexcusetobringthepracticetoanabruptend,thusfailinginit.Theymayfranklyacceptthefatigueitselfassufficientreasonfortheirdesertion.Ortheymaymaketheexcuseofattendingtosomeothertaskwaitingtobedone.Butthefactisthatalmostassoonastheystart,theydonotwanttogoon.Theysitdowntomeditateandthentheyfindtheydonotwanttomeditate!Why?Theanswerliesintheintellect'sintractablerestlessness,itsinherentrepugnancetobeinggovernedorbeingstill.
10Commandyourthoughtsduringthisfirstperiodofmeditationdirectthembytheenergizedwilltowardsadefiniteandspecificsubject.Donotletthemdriftvaguely.Assertyourmasterybyapositiveeffort.
11Inyourmeditations,stopthinkingaboutthethingsthatoughttohavebeenleftoutsidethedoorandstartthinkingabouttheOverself.
12Themindwillrushofflikeawildbullfromthedisciplineheseekstoimposeonit.Ifthisfails,itwillusetemptationsordiversionsorpessimism.
13ThinkofthelamasittinginlongandsustainedmeditationinthefreezingcellofaTibetanmonasteryandbeashamedofyourownweakness.
14Ifthemeditationisnottoloseitselfinemptydaydreaming,itmustbealert.
15Ifmeditationweretostopwithruminatingintentlyoverone'sownbestideasoroversomeinspiredman'srecordedideas,theresultwouldcertainlybehelpfulandthetimespentworthwhile.Itwouldbehelpfulandconstructive,butitwouldnotbemorethanthat.Suchcommunionwiththoughtsisnottherealaimofmeditation.ThataimistoopenadoortotheOverself.Toachievethis,itcastsoutallideasandthrowsawayallthoughts.Wherethinkingstillkeepsuswithinthelittleego,thedeliberatesilenceofthinkingliftsusoutoftheegoaltogether.
16Theessenceofyogaistoputastoptotheego'smentalactivities.Itseverworking,everrestlesscharacterisrightandnecessaryforhumanlifebutatthesametimeisatyrantandslavedriveroverhumanlife.
17Oneofthehindrancestosuccessinmeditation,tobeovercomewithgreatdifficulty,isthetendencyoftheintellectandespeciallyofthemodernWesternintellecttothinkoftheactivitytowhichitcouldbeattendingifitwerenottryingtomeditate,ortolookforwardtowhatitwillbedoingassoonasthemeditationends,ortoprojectitselfintoimaginationsandpredictionsaboutthenextfewhoursorthenextday.Theonlywaytodealwiththiswhenithappensisforciblytodragthemind'sattentionawayfromitswanderingsandholdittotheNow,asifnothingelseexistsorcaneverexist.
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 3/26
18Catchyourthoughtsintheirfirststageandyoucatchthecauseofsomeofyourtroubles,sins,andevendiseases.
19Thethoughtswhichintrudethemselvesonyourmeditationinsuchmultitudesandwithsuchpersistencemaybequelledifyousetgoingasearchastowheretheycomefrom.
20Ifthewanderingcharacteristicofallthoughtsdivertsattentionanddefeatstheefforttomeditate,tryanotherway.Questionthethoughtsthemselves,seekouttheirorigin,tracethemtotheirbeginningandreducetheirnumbermoreandmore.Findoutwhatparticularinterestorimpulseemotionordesireintheegocausesthemtoariseandpushthiscausebacknearertothevoid.Inthisway,youtendtoseparateyourselffromthethoughtsthemselves,refusetoidentifywiththem,andgetbacknearertoyourhigheridentity.
21Thefirstpartoftheexerciserequireshimtobanishallthoughts,feelings,images,andenergieswhichdonotbelongtothesubject,prayer,ideal,orproblemhechoosesasatheme.Nothingelsemaybeallowedtointrudeintoconsciousnessor,havingintrudedbythemind'soldrestlessness,itistobeblottedoutimmediately.Suchexpulsionisalwaystobeaccompaniedbyanexhalingofthebreath.Eachreturnofattentiontotheselectedthemeistobeaccompaniedbyaninhalingofthebreath.
22Whenthoughtsarerestlessandhardtocontrol,thereisalwayssomethinginuswhichisawareofthisrestlessness.Thisknowledgebelongstothehidden"I"whichstandsasanunruffledwitnessofallourefforts.Wemustseekthereforetofeelforandidentifyourselfwithit.Ifwesucceed,thentherestlessnesspassesawayofitself,andthebubblingthoughtsdissolveintoundifferentiatedThought.
23Hemustfirstworkatthecleansingofhismind.Thisisdonebyvigilantlykeepingoutdegradingthoughtsandbyrefusingentrytoweakeningones.
24Hemustwaitpatientlyyetworkintentlyafterhecloseshiseyesuntilhisthoughts,circlinglikeaflockofbirdsaroundaship,comegentlytorest.
25Wehabituallythinkatrandom.Webeginourmusingswithonesubjectandusuallyendwithanentirelydifferentone.Weevenforgettheverythemewhichstartedthemovementofourmind.Suchanundisciplinedmindisanaverageone.Ifweweretowatchourselvesforfiveminutes,wewouldbesurprisedtodiscoverhowmanytimesthoughthadinvoluntarilyjumpedfromonetopictoanother.
26Thefirstproblemishowtokeephisinterestfromdryingup,thesecondhowtokeephisattentionfromwanderingoff.
27Whenhehaspreviouslypurifiedhischaracter,hewillnaturallybeabletosustainlongperiodsofmeditationwithoutbeingdistractedbywaywardemotions.
28ThepassageinconsciousnessfrommerethoughtstosheerThoughtisnotaneasyone.
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 4/26
Lifelongingrainedhabithasmadeourconsciousnessformridden,tiedtosolids,andexpectantofconstantchange.Tosurrenderthishabitseemstoit(albeitwrongly)quiteunnatural,andconsequentlyartificialresistancesaresetup.
29Tokeepupthemeditationforsomelengthoftime,toforcehimselftosittherewhileallhishabitualbodilyandmentalinstinctsareurginghimtoabandonthepractice,callsforarousingofinnerstrengthtofightoffinattentionorfatigue.Butthisverystrength,oncearoused,willeventuallyenablehimtokeepitupforlongerandlongerperiods.
30Asthemindslowlyrelaxes,thenumberofthoughtsisreduced,theattentivenesstothemincreased.
31Wheneverthemeditatornoticesthathehaslosthiswayandisnolongerthinkingofhischosensubject,hehastostartagainandrethinkthesubject.Thisprocessofrefindinghiswayseveraltimesmayhavetoberepeatedduringeachsessionofmeditation.
32Itwillbeahelptomeditatemoresuccessfullyif,atthebeginning,thebreathingrhythmisequalizedsothattheinbreathandtheoutbreathareroughlyofthesamelengthandifonedrawstheairinalittlemoredeeplythannormallyandletsitoutalittlemoreslowlythannormally.
33Thesocallednormalmindisinastateofconstantagitation.Fromthestandpointofyoga,thereislittledifferencewhetherthisagitationbepleasurableorpainful.
34Ifastudentisnotpurifiedenough,norinformedenough,itisbetternottoendeavourtoreachthetrancestage.Heshoulddevotehiseffortstothecontrolofthoughtsandtothesearchforinnertranquillityalongwiththisselfpurificationandimprovementofknowledge.
35Thethoughtflowmaybestoppedbyforciblemeanssuchasbreathcontrol,buttheresultwillthenbeonlyatransientandsuperficialone.Ifadeeperandmoredurableresultisdesired,itisessentialtoconjointhebreathcontrolwithotherkindsofselfcontrolwithadisciplineofthesensesandacleansingofthethoughts.
36Theaimistowork,littlebylittle,towardslowingdowntheactionofthinkingfirstandstillingitaltogetherlater.
37Iftheinitialperiodofdistracted,wandering,overactive,orrestlessthoughtsirkshimbyitslength,heshouldrememberthatthisshowsthestateofhismindduringmostoftheday.
38Itisacustomamongtheyogis,andonelaiddowninthetraditionaltexts,tobeginmeditationbypayinghomagetoGodandtothemaster.Thepurposeofthisistoattracthelpfromthesesources.
39
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 5/26
Themindisdraggedhitherandthitherbyitsdesiresorinterest,draggedtofleetingandephemeralthings.
40Theundisciplinedmindwillinevitablyresisttheeffectsneededfortheseexercises.Thisisadifficultperiodforthepractiser.Theremedyistoarousehimself,"summonupthewill,"andreturnagainandagaintothefightuntilthemind,likeahorse,beginstoacceptitstrainingandlearnstoobey.
41Inthisinterimwaitingperiodnothinghappens,onlythethoughtsbubblealongastheyusuallydoduringanidletime,exceptthatthereissomestrain,someconstrictionwheneverheremembersthatthereisapurposeinhissittinghere,acontrolneededtoachieveit.
42Heistobeginbygivingadisciplinedattentiontotheworkingsofhisownmind.
43Thebodysoonbeginstoprotestagainsttheunaccustomedstillnesssuddenlyenforcedonit:themindsoonstartstorebelagainstthetediumandboredomoftheearlystages,andthehabitualunrestofbothwillhavetobefacedagainandagain.
44Itisdifficult,oftenimpossible,tostopthinkingbyone'sowneffort.Butbygrace'shelpitgetsdone.Withthinkingnolongerintheway,consciousnessceasestobebrokenup:nothingistheretoimpedemovementintostillness.
45Iftheinnatecapacityislacking,asitusuallyis,thentheaspirantrequiressomeskillgatheredfromrepeatedexperiencetoshutoutsoundswhichbringthemindbacktophysicalsituations.
46Itisnotonlythoughtsthatcomeupintheformofwordsthathavetobebroughtundercontrol,butalsothosethatcomeupintheformofimages.Solongasconsciousnessispeopledbytheactivitiesofimagination,solongdoesitsstillnessandemptinessremainunreached.Thatcertainyogaexercisesuseeitheroftheseformstoreachtheirgoaldoesnotfalsifythisstatement.Foreventherethemethodpractisedhastobeabandonedataparticularpoint,orstoptherebyitself.
47Theintellectualtypetriestoanalysewhathedoesandseesintheattempttounderstanditmorefully.Buttheendresultisthatthetranscendentpartoftheexperienceislostonesetofthoughtssucceedsonlyinproducinganother.Hemustbewillingandreadytostopintellectionatthestartoftheexercise.Thisisessentialtosuccessinmeditation.
48Whatevermethodblocksthewanderingofthoughtsorthepracticeofintellectualism,whetherrandomorcontinuous,maybeusefulsolongasitassistsconcentrationandlogicalexaminationisavoided.Itcouldbeamantram,butnotadevotional,intelligible,ormeaningfulone.Itcouldbeadiagram,adotonthewall,oradoorhandle.
49Hemusttrytokeephismentalequilibriumundisturbedbythehardshipsandunbrokenbythepleasureswhichlifemaybringhim.Thiscannotbedoneunlessthemindisbroughtto
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 6/26
restonsomepoint,idea,name,orsymbolwhichgivesitahappypoise,andunlessitiskeptthere.
50Itisnotenoughtoachievecontrolofthebody,itsurgesanditsdrivesanditspassions,splendidthoughthatcertainlyis.Hisadvancemustnotstopthere.Forhehasyettodealwithhisthoughts,torecognizethattheycomefromhisego,feedandnurtureit,andcontrolofthemmustalsobeachieved.
51Thefirstlawofthedisciple'slifeistobringhisownthoughtsunderlaw.
52"Tostopthinkingisasifonewantedtostopthewind"isanoldChinesestatement.
53Thecontrolofthoughtanditsconsecrationtoexaltedthemeswillbringhimmorepeaceandmorepower.
54Hemustgivehimselfasufficientlengthoftime,firsttoattaintheconcentratedstateandsecond,toholdit.
55Hefindsthat,howeverwillingandeagerhemaybe,hecansustaintheintensityofstruggleagainstthisrestlessnessofmindonlyforacertaintime.
56Hemustgivehisthoughtsadecisiveturninthechosendirectioneverytimetheystrayfromit.
57Imaginationislikelytorunawaywithhisattentionduringthisearlyperiod.Atfirstitwillbeoccupiedwithworldlymattersalreadybeingthoughtabout,butlateritmayinvolvepsychicalmatters,producingvisionsorhallucinationsofanunreliablekind.
58Evenwhenheismeditating,theaspirantmayfindthatfeelings,thoughts,memories,ordesiresandotherimagesofhisworldlyexperiencecomeintotheconsciousness.Hemustnotbindhimselftothembygivingattentiontothem,butshouldimmediatelydismissthem.
59Experiencesandhappeningskeepattentioneveractiveandeveroutwardturned,whilememories,althoughinternal,directitbacktothephysicalworld.Soaman'sownthoughtsgetinthewayandpreventhimfromaconfrontationwithpureThoughtitself.
60Theabilitytobringthemindtocontrolledonepointednessisextremelydifficult,anditsachievementmayrequiresomeyearsofeffortanddetermination.Heneednotallowhimselftobecomediscouragedbutshouldacceptthechallengethusofferedforwhatitis.
61Themindfluttersfromsubjecttosubjectlikeabutterflyfromflowertoflower,andisunabletostaywherewewantit.
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 7/26
Blanknessisnotthegoal
62Amereemptinessofmindisnotenough,isnottheobjectiveofthesepractices.SomeidiotspossessthisnaturallybuttheydonotpossessthewisdomoftheOverself,theunderstandingofWhoandWhattheyare.
63Philosophydoesnotteachpeopletomaketheirmindsablank,doesnotsayemptyoutallthoughts,beinertandpassive.Itteachesthereductionofallthinkingactivitytoasingleseedthought,andthatoneistobeeitherinterrogativelike"WhatAmI?"oraffirmativelike"Thegodlikeiswithme."ItistruethattheopeningupofOverselfconsciousnesswill,inthefirstdelicateexperience,meantheclosingdownofthelastthoughts,theuttermoststillnessofmind.Butthatstagewillpass.Itwillrepeatitselfagainwheneveroneplungesintothedeepesttrance,theraptestmeditativeabsorption.Anditmustthencomeofitself,inducedbythehigherself'sgrace,notbythelowerself'sforce.Otherwise,merementalblanknessisariskyconditiontobeavoidedbyprudentseekers.Itinvolvestheriskofmediumshipandofbeingpossessed.
64Vacuityofmindisnottobeconfusedwithperceptionofreality.
65Itisonlyalimp,semimesmericstate,afterall,andyieldsapeacewhichimitatesthetruedivinepeaceastheimageinamirrorimitatesthefleshandbloodman.Itisproducedbyselfeffort,notbyGrace,byautosuggestionratherthanbytheOverself.
66"NomoreseriousmistakecanbecommittedthanconsideringthehibernationofreptilesandotheranimalsasillustratingthesamadhistageofYoga.Itcorrespondswiththepratyahara,andnotthesamadhistage.Pratyaharahasbeencomparedwiththestageofinsensibilityproducedbytheadministrationofanesthetics,forexample,chloroform."*tMajorB.D.Basu,IndianMedicalService
67Toseekmentalblanknessasadirectobjectiveistomistakeaneffectforacause.Itistruethatsomeoftheinferioryogisdoso,tryingbyforciblemeanslikesuppressionofthebreathtoputallthoughtsoutofthemind.Butthisisnotadvocatedbyphilosophy.
68Toattempttheeliminationofallthoughtsastheyarise,withtheaimofkeepingconsciousnessentirelyemptyofallcontent,isanothermethodwhichsomeyogisandnotafewOccidentalstrytopractise.Itisnotaseasyasitseemsandisnotfrequentlysuccessful.Philosophydoesnotusethisrashmethod,doesnotrecommendmakingthemindjustablank.Therearetwoperilsinit.Thefirstisthatitlaysamanopentopsychicinvasionfromoutsidehimself,or,failingthat,frominsidehimself.Inthefirstcase,hebecomesaspiritualisticmedium,passivelysurrendershimselftoanyunseenentitywhichmaypassthroughthedoorthusleftopen,andrisksbeingtakenpossessionofbythisentity.Itmaybeearthbound,foolish,lying,orevil,atworst.Inthesecondcase,heunloosesthecontrolsoftheconsciousselfandletsintoitforcesthathehaslongoutgrownbutnotfullyeliminatedpastselvesthataredyingandwouldbebestleftalone,subconsciousimpulsesthatleadintoevilorinsanehallucinationsmasqueradingasoccultperceptionsorpowers.Nowitiscorrecttosaythatthemindmustbecompletelymasteredandthatavacuumwillariseintheprocess,butthisisstillnotthewaytodoit.Thebetterwayistofocusthemindsounwaveringlyonsomeonething,thoughtorimage
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 8/26
orphrase,soelevatedthatapointwillbereachedwherethehigherselfitselfsuddenlyobliteratesthethoughts.
69Thesilenceofmeditationisadignifiedthing,butthesilenceofastupidemptymindisnot.
70Merelybeingthoughtfreebyitselfmayleadtopsychicresults.Onehastosinkbacktoadynamicpositivementalsilencebystartingmeditationwithadynamicpositiveattitude.
Eliminatingthoughtsandeliminatingtheegoduringmeditationaretwodifferentthings.Youshouldexperimentwiththevariousmethodsgiveninthebooksifyouwanttoknowwhichwouldhelpyoumost.
71SuTungPo:"Peoplewhodonotunderstandsometimesdescribeastateofanimalunconsciousnessasthestateofsamadhi.Ifso,thenwhencatsanddogssleepafterbeingwellfed,theytoodonothaveathoughtontheirminds.Itwouldobviouslybeincorrecttoarguethattheyhaveenteredsamadhi."
72ZenPatriarchHuineng:"Itisagreatmistaketosuppressourmindfromallthinking...torefrainfromthinkingofanything,thisisanextremeerroneousview...yourmenareherebywarnednottotakethoseexercisesforcontemplatingonquietudeorforkeepingthemindinablankstate."
73Thedrowsytorporofalazymindisnotthetruevoidtobedesiredandsought.
74Thefeelingofpeaceisgoodbutdeceptive.Theegocauseofallhistensionisstillhiddenwithinit,inreposebutonlytemporarilyinactive.
Practiseconcentratedattention
75Meditationhasasitsfirstobjectanincreasingwithdrawalofthemindfromthethingsofthisworld,andalsofromthethoughtsofthisworld,untilitisstilled,passive,selfcentered.Butbeforeitcanachieveanyobjectatall,attentionmustbemadeaskeenlyconcentratedasaneagle'sstare.
76TheaimistoachieveaconcentrationasfirmandassteadyastheMongolianhorseman'swhenhegallopswithoutspillingadropofwaterfromacompletelyfilledglassheldinhishand.
77Eachexerciseinmeditationmuststartwithafocalpointifitistobeeffective.Itmustworkuponaparticularideaortheme,eventhoughitneednotendwithit.
78Whenitissaidthattheobjectofconcentrationpracticeshouldbeasingleone,thisdoesnotmeanasinglethought.Thatisreservedeitherforadvancedstagesorforspiritual
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 9/26
declarations.Itmeansasingletopic.Thiswillinvolveawholetrainofideas.Buttheyoughttobelogicallyconnected,oughttogrowoutofeachother,asitwere.
79Thegeniusistheproductofintenseconcentration.Allthosewholackthisquality,willalsolackgenius.
80Exercise:Whenwhollyabsorbedinwatchingacinemapictureorastagedramaorinreadingabookwithcompleteinterest,youareunconsciouslyinthefirststageofmeditation.Droptheseedofthisattention,thatis,thestory,suddenly,buttrytoretainthepureconcentratedawareness.Ifsuccessful,thatwillbeitssecondstage.
81Theseconcentrationsbegintobecomeeffectivewhentheysucceedinbreakinguptheholdofhishabitualactivitiesandimmediateenvironment,whentheyfreehisattentionfromwhatwouldordinarilybehispresentstate.
82Heisabletoreachthisstageonlyaftermanymonthsoffaithfulpracticeor,morelikely,aftersomeyearsofit.Butonedayhewillsurelyreachit,andthenhewillrecognizethatthestraining,thetoil,andthefaithwereallwellworthwhile.
83Thefirstthingwhichhehastodoistoreeducateattention.Ithastobeturnedinanewdirection,directedtowardsanewobject.Ithastobebroughtinsidehimself,andbroughtwithdeepfeelingandmuchlovetothequestoftheSoulthathidesthere.
84ThemindcanbeweaponedintoasharpswordwhichpiercesthroughtheillusionthatsurroundsusintotheRealitybehind.Ifthentheswordfallsfromourgrasp,whatmatter?Ithasserveditsusefulpurpose.
85Thereisaninvisibleandinaudibleforcewithinusall.Whocanreaditsriddle?Hewhocanfindtheinstrumentwherewithtocontactit.Thescientisttakeshisdynamoandgatherselectricitythroughitsmeans.ThetruthseekerconcentrateshisminduponhisinteriorandcontactsthemysteriousForcebackoflife.Concentratedthoughtishisinstrument.
86Theeffortneededtowithdrawconsciousnessfromitsfocalpointinthephysicalbodytoitsfocalpointinathought,amentalpicture,orinitsownself,isinevitablytremendous.Indeed,whenthechangeisfullycompleted,themanisoftenquiteunawareofhavinganybodyatall.
87Patanjalipointsoutthatinabilitytoholdastateofmeditationafteritisreachedwillpreventthearisalofspiritualconsciousnessasmuchasinabilitytoreachthestateatall.
88Themindmustbeemptiedfirstofallcontentsavethisoneparamountthought,thisfixedfocusofconcentration.
89Letitbegrantedthatthepracticeofconcentrationishardtoperformandirksometo
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 10/26
continueforweeksandmonthswithoutgreatresult.Nevertheless,itisnottoohard.Anyonewhoreallymakesuphismindtomasterit,candoso.
90Whenthisconcentrationarrivesatfixityandfirmnesswhicheliminatesrestlesswandering,intrusion,anddisturbance,theneedofconstantlyrepeatingtheexercisevanishes.Ithasfulfilleditsimmediatepurpose.Theaspirantshouldnowtransferhisattentiontothenext("ConstantRemembrance")exercise,andexerthimselfhenceforthtobringhisattainmentintoworldlylife,intothemidstofattendingtoearthlyduties.
91Thepracticeofyogais,negatively,theprocessofisolatingone'sconsciousnessfromthefivesensesand,positively,ofconcentratingitinthetrueself.
92Withitmaximummoralandmentalconsciousnessisinduced.Therearetwoseparatephasesinthistechniquewhichmustbedistinguishedfromoneanother.Thefirstinvolvestheuseofwillpowerandthepracticeofselfcontrol.Thesecond,whichsucceedsit,involvesredirectionoftheforcesinaspirationtowardtheOverself,andmaybecalledtheegostillingphase.
93Allexercisesinconcentration,alllearningandmasteryofit,requiretwothings:first,anobjectorsubjectuponwhichattentionmaybebroughtsteadilytorestsecond,enoughinterestinthatobjecttocreatesomefeelingaboutit.Whenthisfeelingbecomesdeepenough,thedistractionscausedbyotherthoughtsdieaway.Concentrationhasthenbeenachieved.
94Justaswegetstrongbyenduringtensionsinthevariedsituationsoflife,sowegetstronginconcentrationbypatientlyenduringdefeatsoneaftertheotherwhendistractionsmakeusforgetourpurposewhilesittingformeditation.
95Quieteningthemindinvolves,andcannotbutinvolve,quieteningthesenses.
96Concentrationpracticeadvancesthroughstages.Inthefirststagethatwhichisconcentratedonisseenasfromadistance,whereasinthesecondstagetheideatendstoabsorbtheminditself.Inthefirststagewestillhavetomakehardeffortstoholdtheideatoattentionwhereasinthenextstagetheeffortisslightandeasy.
97Thebodymuststopitshabitualmovement.Theattentionmusttakeholdofonethingametaphysicalsubjectorphysicalobject,amentalpictureordevotionalidea.Onlyafterproficiencyisreachedinthispreliminarystageshouldtheintellectseekanunfamiliarstillnessandanexpectantpassivitywhichmarktheclosingsectionofthesecondstage.
98Ifanylightflashorformisseen,heshouldinstantlyconcentratehiswholeminduponitandsustainthisconcentrationaslongasheisableto.Theactivethoughtscanbebroughttotheirendbythismeans.
99Itispossibleforaperfectlyconcentratedyogitoimagineawaythewholeworldoutofhisexistence!
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 11/26
100Ifthereverieattainsthedepthofseeingandfeelinghardlyanythingoutsidehim,beingonlyfaintlyawareofthingsbeforehimoraroundhim,thatisquiteenoughforphilosophicalpurposes.Afulltranceisneithernecessarynordesirable.
101Heconcentratesdailyontheimagewhichhedesirestocreateandsustaininhismind.
102Thisworkofpushingattentioninwards,backtoitsverysource,andthesenseof"Iness"backwithit,istobeaccompaniedbythinkingonlyuntilthelattercanbestoppedoritselfstops.Thisworkisthencontinuedbyastilledandsteadysearch.Whentheneedofsearchcomestoanend,thesearchervanishes,the"I"becomespure"Being,"hasfounditssource.Inthesedailyornightlysessions,itishisworktoturnawayfromthediffusedattentionwhichishisnormalconditiontotheconcentratedattentionwhichisindispensableforprogress,andtosustainit.
103Itisnotadvisabletolistentomusicwhilstworkingatatypewriter,doingcreativewriting,orreadingtolearn.Theonlyexceptionisreadinglight,unimportant,orentertainingmaterialalthougheventhenitisstillnotadvisable.Thisisbecauseitleadstoadividedminditcreatestension,andwhatoneisdoingmustnecessarilysuffertosomeextentwhiletryingtoattendtothemusic.
104Readinganoblebookhelpsbecauseitconcentratesthethoughtsalongasingletrack.Itisthusanexerciseinconcentration.
105Ifhisloweremotionsandearthlypassionsaretobebroughtunderpropercontrol,willandreason,intuitionandaspirationmustbebroughtintothestruggleagainstthem.Ifhisactsaretobehisown,andnottheresultofenvironmentalsuggestion,ifhisthoughtsaretoarisefromwithinhisownmind,andnotfromotherpeople'sminds,hemustlearntheartoffixingthemonwhateverhechoosesandconcentratingthemwheneverhewishes.
106GivequestersthisorderofDailyExercise:(1)Prayerinposture(2)Breathinginposture(3)Affirmationsinmantrasemimeditation(4)Fullmeditation.
107Becauseheneedstogenerateenoughpowertoconcentratehismindonthishightopic,acertaineconomyofenergiesisrequiredandanavoidanceofdistractions.
108Thesamepowerofdirectingattentionandconcentratingthoughtwhichbindshimtotheworldlyexistencecanbeusedtofreehimselffromit.
109Thecultivatedandconcentratedfacultyofattentionbecomesthetoolwherewithhecarriesonhisinnerworkuponhimself.
110Thepreliminariesofmeditationmustnotbemistakenfortheactualmeditationitself.Theyaremerelyoccupiedwiththeefforttobrushoffdistractionsandattainconcentratedthoughtwhereasitiseffortless,continuousmentalquiet.Theycarrythemeditatorthroughtheinitialperiodofsearchitisthehigherstateofconsciousnesswhichthey
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 12/26
induce.
111Suchintenseconcentrationcanabolishtimeandannihilatespaceinitthusreveriesdemonstratetheirrelativityandtheirmentalness.
112Ausefulexercisetohelpacquireconcentrationistoshuttheeyes,directattentiontowardsomepartofthebody,andholditthere.
113Wemakeuseofconsciouseffortsonlyinordertoattainsubconsciouseffortwefixonethoughtinmeditationonlyinordertoarriveatastatebeyondallthought.
114Themind'sgreatcreativepotencyrevealsitselfinproportionasthemind'sconcentrativenessdevelops.
115NuritheDervishwasanadeptinmeditation.Whenaskedfromwhichmasterhehadlearntsuchskill,hesaidthatacatwatchingamousehadbeenhisguru.
116Therearetwodifferentgazingpracticesusedbytheyogis.Thefirstrequiresthemtofixtheireyessteadilyontheendortipofthenosethesecondrequiresthemtofixitontheroot.Thefirstleavestheeyelidsclosertogetherthanthesecond.Thereisathirdpracticeofarelatedkindinwhichthegazeisdirectedtothecentreofthestomach,ornavel.
117MeditationExerciseonPulseBeat:Takeholdoftheleftwristbetweenthumbandforefingerofrighthand.Locatethearterywherethecirculationofthebloodcanbefelt.Concentrateattentiononthispulsebeatundividedly.
118Thestateofconcentrationacquiredduringaworldlypursuitdiffersfromthatacquiredduringmysticalmeditationinthatthefirstisusuallydirectedtowardoutwardthingsandtheexperienceofsensepleasures,whereasthesecondisdirectedtowardinwardbeingandrejectssensepleasures.Thusthetwostatesareatoppositepolesonebelongingtotheegoseekingman,andtheothertotheOverselfseekingman.
119Whereasordinaryconcentrationkeepstheattentionstillturnedtowardoutwardthingsandsituations,thatconcentrationwhichattainsitsthirdstageistransformedintocontemplation.Heretheattentionisentirelyinwardturnedandtowardtheheavenlybeing,theholyofholiesthatistheOverself.
120Therearetwowaysinwhichconcentrationispractised.Thefirstisunconsciousandisusedbymanypersonstogettheirworkdonewhethertheybeengineersorartists.Theyhavetoholdtheirmindtothejob,thematter,orthedutyinhand.Thescientistmaypractiseit,too,inanalysingorinlogicallydevelopingatheoryorinlinkingupdifferentideas.Themeditatorusesconcentrationinadifferentwayifheisatthefirststage,whichistheconsciousanddeliberatepracticeofconcentration.Itisthenusedwithoutanalysis,withoutdiscursivethought.Itissimplyheldtoasingleobjectoridea.Theattentionisnotallowedtowanderawayintodevelopmentsofthatideaorobject.Inshort,theconnectionstootherthingsarenotmade.
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 13/26
121Concentration,fromthestandpointofmysticaldevelopment,mayberegardedasachievedwhenattentioniskeptononeideaallthetime,withoutbeingdividedupoverseveraldifferentideas.Itisnotachievedifkeptononesubjectallthetimethroughconsideringseveralrelatedideasthatis,ordinaryconcentratedthinking.
122Hemusttrainhimselftopossessthepowertoconcentrate:first,onasinglelineofthoughtstotheexclusionofallothersandsecond,onasinglethought.
123Withthegradualsettlingdownofthoughtandbody,thementalstiffnesswhichresistedconcentrationdiminishes.Hewillbedistinctlyandvividlyawareofthisturningpointbecauseoftheease,andevendelight,withwhichhismindwillnowfeelitsownexaltedpower.
124Thespirituallifeofmanatthisjunctureisabattleagainsttheoutwardrunningtendencyofthemind.Toperceivethisinoneselfistoperceivehowweakonereallyis,howfeebleavictimofworldlyactivities,howlackingintheabilitytoconcentrateperfectlyevenforfiveminutes,andhowunabletoholdtheattentionforthesamelengthoftimeintheimpersonalembraceofaphilosophictheme.
125TheSamuraiofoldJapanembodiedayogatechniqueinthefencinginstruction.Thenovicehadtodevelopthepowerofmentalconcentration,andthenuseitbypicturinghimselfduringmeditationwieldingtheswordtoperfection.Thusthebodywasbrokengraduallytothewillofthemind,andbegantorespondwithrapidlightningstrokesandplacingsofthesword.ThefamousKatsu,whorosefromdestituteboytonationalleadershipofJapan'snineteenthcenturyawakening,wentnightafternighttoanabandonedtemplewherehemingledregularmeditationwithfencingpracticeinhisambitiontobecomeoneofTokyo'smasterswordsmen.
126ThispowertosustainconcentratedattentionuponasinglelineorobjectiveforalongtimeapowersogreatlyadmiredbyNapoleoncomesintheendtothosewhopersevereinthesepractices.
127Thefixedstatuelikepostureofthehunterwatchingapreycloseathand,refrainingfrommovementlesthedisturbit,eyesandmindcompletelyintentontheanimal,gavetheyogiseersanotherobjectlessonintheartofconcentration.
128Hemakesthenovice'smistakeofassumingthatwhatisgoodforhim,necessaryforhim,isequallygoodandnecessaryforothers.Butwhatisessentialformysticalexperienceisonethingandonethingonlythefacultyoffixingone'sattentionwithinandsustainingit.
129Throughityoueffectachangeinyourentirementalmakeup.Themindbecomesincreasinglyonepointed.Itisabletoformquickdecisions.Thosedecisionsareusuallycorrectbecauseallthefactsofthecaseareseenatonce,asinaflash.Itwillgiveyouanairofdefinitepurpose,simplybecauseinyourexternallifeyouaremerelyworkingaccordingtothepurposesplannedinquietude.Youreveryactbecomesmorerealandvital.Yougatherselfconfidencebecauseyouconcentrateyourmindontheonethingyouaredoing.
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 14/26
130Hispurposemustbeutterlyunified,absolutelysingleminded.
131Theattainmentofreveriepassesthroughtwostagesalso.Inthefirst,themindislikealittlechildtryingtowalkbutoftenfalling,fortheabstractedmoodisintermittentonlyandsoonlost.Inthesecondstage,themindislikeanadultwalkingsteadilyandcontinually,fortheabstractedmoodremainsunbrokenandundisturbed.
132Whenthemeditatortriestokeepoutallotherthoughtsexceptthechosenone,heputshimselfuptoatension,astrainbecauseinmostcaseshesimplycannotdothisandthefailurewhichisfinallyadmittedafterrepeatedeffortsthenhasadepressinganddiscouragingeffectuponhisQuest.Therefore,otherandeasiermethodshavebeendevisedforbeginnersasapreliminarytothemoredifficultpracticesofconcentration.Suchmethodsincludethesteadygazingataphysicalpoint,object,orplaceuseofamantram,whichistheconstantrepetitionofawordorphraseorformulaShortPathaffirmationwhichisthedwellingmentallyandconstructivelyonametaphysicaltruthorethicalqualityofcharacterand,finally,thepracticeofcertainbreathingexercises.
133Heimaginesapointuponthewallandconcentratesallhisbeinguponituntilheisawareofnothingelsebutthepoint.Allotherthoughtshavetobeemptiedoutofhismind,allexperienceofthephysicalsensesotherthanthissightofthepointhastovanish.
134Itisausefulpractice,whenthethoughtsduringmeditationrefusetobeconcentrated,toturnthem,too,overtotheHigherPowernomattertowhateventorperson,situationorplacetheystray.
135Whenthecapacityforconcentrationisintensifiedandprolonged,themanisthenreadyforthefurtherphasewhichismeditationassuch.
136AsimpletechniqueformeditationwhichhasbeenusedinAsiasincethemostancienttimesavoidstheuseofanyhumanbeingoranysacredmantramastheobjectofmeditation.Thistechniqueinitsmostprimitiveformistotakeapieceofcharcoalandtodrawacircleorasquareonthewallofaroomandtheninthecentreofthepatterntoputadot.Thestudentisthentoldtoconcentratehisgazeuponthedotandtothinkofnothingelse.Thepatternisusuallylargeenoughforhimtoseeitquiteplainlywhensittingayardortwooreventhreefromthewall.Nowadays,thesametechniqueisusedbymakingthediagramonplainwhitethickdrawingpaperandpinningthepapertothewall.
137Thepracticeofusingaphysicalobjectuponwhichtogazeinordertoconcentrateattentionduringmeditationmakesitmucheasierforthosewhoareattractedtoit.AmetaphysicianofKonigsberg,ImmanuelKant,usedthesamepracticewhenworkingouthismetaphysicaltheories.Sittinginhisstudy,hewouldlookthroughthewindowandfixhissightonaparticularfirtreewhichwasgrowingoutside.OnedayitwascutdownandremovedandforsometimethereafterKantfounddifficultyinholdinghislineofthoughtwithouttheaccustomedfirtreetogazeupon.Indeed,Kantwassuchacreatureofhabitthateveryeveningpunctuallyatfiveo'clockhewouldtakehiswalk.PeopleinthecityofKonigsbergusedtotimetheirwatchesbyhisappearanceinthestreet,becausehewasinvariablypunctualinstartinghiswalk.
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 15/26
138Forthosewhohavesetupahighspiritualidealandmoralcharacterforthemselvesandwhohaveacquiredsufficientknowledgethroughstudyorlecturesabouttheprinciplesandfundamentalsofyoga,thereisanexcellentexercisewhichwillhelpthemthroughtheelementaryphasesofdevelopmentbuttootherswhoarehighlyneurotic,mentallydisturbed,approachingorunderpsychosis,itisnotonlynotrecommended,butwouldbedangerous.Thisexerciseistoconcentratealltheattentionupononeobjectinthesurroundingsandtokeepitthere.Allassociatedideas,analysis,andthoughtsabouttheobjectshouldbethrownout.Itisnotamatterofreflectingabouttheobject,butofholdingitintheviewandinthemindtotheexclusionofeverythingelse.
Onecanbeginwithveryshortperiodsofpracticeandgoonslowlytolongerones,butwhensomeamountofsuccesshasbeenestablishedbytherigoroususeofwillpowertheobjectshouldbechosenfromsomethingselevatingtothemindsuchasbeautifulmusicorbeautifullandscape.Fortheelementaryphase,aboutfifteenminutesshouldbethemaximum,butforthisupliftingphaseonemaygoonlonger.
139Thepracticeofonepointedconcentrationofattentionforanypurposeofanordinaryorworldlycharacterorprofessionalortechnicalnaturecanbecarriedtosuchafarpointthatitwillinfluencethemindgenerally,sothatwheninthecourseoftimethepersonevolvestohigheraimsandworthiergoalshehasreadytouseandtobringintohiseffortstoattainthosegoalsthisconcentratedpowerofthemindwhichissovaluableandsonecessaryforhisinnergrowth.
140Tosquintlightlyattherootofthenoseisanotherformofconcentration.Itisahelptowardswithdrawingfromthephysicalsensesandenteringeitherthepsychicorthespiritualplanes.Thepsychicpicturesmaybeseenassymbolicorliteral,andclairvoyancemaydevelop.Ifthesemanifestationsarerejected,andattentionisdrawndeeperintothevoidofspace,freedomandjoymaybefelt.Butiftheyareaccepted,thecreativefacultyoftheartistisunfolded.
141Meditationexercise(LamaDrati):Imagineawhitedotincentreofforeheadandkeepattentionheldunmovinglyonitforonehour.Oryoucanplaceitinheart.Betterstill,imaginethefigureofBuddhaprojectedinfrontofyou,radiatingwhitelight.OrplacetheBuddhaminiaturesizedonyourhead.Allthesearecalledexercisestoattainonepointedmind.Onlyafterthisattainmentcanyouproperlydothemoreadvancedexercises.
142Whatconcentrationmeanstotheartistiswhatitmeanstothemystic.Onlyitsobjectisdifferent.ThelateSirHenryWood,conductoroftheLondonQueen'sHallConcerts,toldhow,duringtheFirstWorldWar,heneverheard,whilstconducting,thesirenswarningthemetropolisofimpendingairraids.Thisiswhatraptabsorptionmeans.
143Theartoffixingthemindinfreechoice,ofholdingthoughtsas,andwhen,onewills,hasyettobevaluedandpractisedasitoughttobeamongus.Overlookedanddisregardedasithasbeen,itislikeburiedtreasureawaitingthediggerandthediscoverer.
144Itisimportanttogivethemindadefiniteideatoholdandmulloveroradefinitelinetofollowandconcentrateon.Itmustbepositiveinthisearlystagebeforeitcansafelybecomepassiveinalaterstage.
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 16/26
145Themindcanbeinfluencedbythefivesensesonlywhenitattendstothem.
146Atacertaindepthofpenetrationintohisinwardbeing,painofthebodyandmiseryoftheemotionsareunabletoexist.Theydisappearfromthemeditator'sconsciousness.
147Duringthefirstperiod,whichmayextendtohalfanhour,whennothingseemstohappenandthelineofthoughtorawarenessiswobblyanduncertain,discouragementirksomenessandimpatiencequiteoftenovercomethepractiser.Theymayinducehimtoabandonthesessionforthatday.Suchasurrendertodefeatismisunwise.Eveninthecaseofthosewhohavepractisedforsomeyearsthetediousinitialwaitingperiodmaystillhavetobeendured.Foritistheperiodduringwhichthoughtssettleslowlydownjustasaglassofmuddywaterslowlyclearsasthemudsettlestothebottom.Theproperattitudetoholdwhilethisprocesscontinuesispatience.Thisisquiteindispensable.
148HowcanamanunifyhisconsciousnesswiththeOverselfwithoutfirstputtinghismindundersomesortofatrainingtostrengthenit,sothathewillnotletgobutwillbeabletoholdonwhenaGlimpsecomes?
149Whereattentionisbeingfixedlyheldonasingletopicbythepowerofastronginterestinit,therewillbelittleregardgiventothepassageoftime.
150Thoughtswilldriftpastineverchangingvariety,buthewilllearntogivethemnoattentioneventhoughheisawareofthem.
151Theactofcontinuousconcentrationifcarriedonforsometimedrawsanextraandunusualquantityofbloodtothebrain.Thiscausespleasurablesensationswhichmayincreasetoanecstaticdegree.
152Thenasalgazemeditationexerciseisbotheasyandquieting.ItismentionedintheGita.Thehalfclosedeyeslookdownonthetipofone'snose.Theymustnotwinkduringthegazeorbeclosed.Whentired,closethemandrest.Avoidstrain,staring,andpoppingtheeyeswideopen.Theactionshouldbeoneofrelaxation,restful.Allattentionofanalertandconcentratedmindshouldbefixedonthegazing.Thisexercisegivescontrolovertheopticnerveandcontributestowardssteadinessofmind.
153Withsufficient,welldirectedpractice,heshouldfixtheidealofbeingabletoattainacapacityofwithdrawingattentionfromtheworldandconcentratingitwithinhimselfwithoutlosingasingleminute.
154Hisprogressintothedeeperstateisretardedif,whiletryingtoholdhisattentiononthechosentheme,heletssomeofitremainselfconsciouslyalertatthesametimetowhatheisdoingandwhathissurroundingsarelike.
155Anymethodwhichsettlestheminduponafixedsubject,orconcentratesattentionuponasingleobject,maybeused.Buttheresultmustbeelevatingandinaccordwithhis
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 17/26
ultimatepurpose.
156Withallattentiongatheredin,listentothebeatingoftheheart.
157Whenthemindistooactiveandthoughtssucceedeachothertooquickly,asinthecaseofverynervousorveryintellectualpersons,physicalmethodsareindicatedforpractice.Thesemaybebreathingexercises,repetitionofasoundorlisteningtomusicofarepetitivenature,gazingatalandscape,figure,workofart,orsymbolicpattern.
158Meditationsucceedstotheextentthatattentioniscontrolledandturnedinward.Whenthiscontrolbecomessointensivethatneithersoundsnorlightscanbreakit,itsconcentrationiscomplete.
159Howbeautifulisthatdetachmentfromunpleasantsurroundingswhichthecapacitytointenselyconcentratebestows.Andthisisonlyoneofitsrewards.Efficiencyinstudyinganewsubjectisanother.
160Thesecretofconcentrationis...practiseconcentration!Onlybyarduouseffortandpersistent,diligentendeavourstomasterhisattentionwillhefinallysucceedindoingso.Noeffortinthisdirectioniswastedanditmaybedoneatanytimeoftheday.
161Onecanturnamysticalexperienceofasmuchastwentyyearsago,orlonger,intofocusforattentioninmeditation,andtherebyassistthememorytorecalleverydetailofit.
162Thepracticeofisolatingconsciousnessandremainingcenteredinit,canbefollowedwhetherweareinsolitarymeditationoractiveintheworld.Inmeditationitbecomestheobjectofthoughtsinactivityitbecomestheirbackground.Theeyescannotlookatthemselves,neithercanconsciousness:itisitselfthesubjectandcannotbeitsownobject.Ifthethoughtsletthemselvesslipbackintoittheirsourcethestillnessofbeingisexperienced.Stayinginitisthepractice.
163Thementaldetachmentneededforthisstudypermitshimtoshakeoffpersonalworriesandpettierdistractions.Whenhecanfullyconcentrateinhisthinking,sustainedandunwanderingabsorptionispossible.
164Itisnotessentialforthemeditatortobesosunkinhispracticeastobecomeentirelyheedlessofhissurroundings.
165Hisattentionshould,intheory,bewhollyconcentratedonthissinglelineofthought.Butinpracticeitwillbesoonlyatbrokenintervals.
166Yogademandsthatthemindoccupyitselfwithonethoughtoronecoherentlineofthought,thatattentionbeheldfasttoit,whetheritbethethoughtofsomethingabstractlikeGodorthethoughtofsomethingconcretelikethecross.
167
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 18/26
Throughsuchconcentrativethinking,wemayreachpeace.Itishard,certainly,andthehandcuffedintellectwillstruggleinyourgrasplikeareluctantprisonernewlyarrested.Youmustcontinuewithyourefforttodevelopconsciousconcentratedthoughtnomatterhowfumblingyourfirstforaysmaybe.
168Theaimistosittheretotallyabsorbedinhisthoughtor,atamoreadvancedlevel,rigidlyconcentratedinhislackofit.
169Theword"centre"isapurelymysticalterm:itisunphilosophical.Whereisthepossibilityofacentralpointinthemindwhichissounlimited?Butforpractisingmysticsseekingtoretirewithin,thecentreisanexcellentgoaltoaimat.
170Couldoneoftheseyogispractisehismeditationwhileassailedbythedeafeningnoiseofasteelgirderrivettingmachineoperatingoutsidehiscave?IsitpracticabletofollowtheadviceoftheMaharishee,whichIheardhimgiveawouldbemeditatorcomplainingaboutbeingbittenbymosquitoes,toignorethem?Letitbenotedthatnopersonwhoistryingtopractisethisartcouldbedistractedifhedidnotattendtothesenseaffected,whetheritbehearingarousedbyamachineorfeelingarousedbyamosquito.
171Shuttingtheeyesisonlythefirststeptowardshuttingallthesenses.Thatinitsturnisonlyasteptowardsthestillhardertaskofshuttingoutallthoughtsandallordinaryeverydayfeelings.
172Thefivesensesserveuswellintheordinaryhoursofactuallifebuttyrannizeoveruswhenwetrytotranscenditandenterthespirituallife.
173Withinafewminutesofstartingtheexercisetheyfeelexhausted.Theefforttoconcentratethemindishardenoughbuttoconcentrateandintrovertitatthesametimeistoomuchforthem.
174Theancientyogatextsenjoinconcentrationofasteadfastgazeuponasmallobjectuntiltheeyesbegintoshedtears.Theresultofsuchpracticesisacatalepticstateinwhichthemindbecomesfixedandunmovingwhilethebodybecomesstiffaswood.
175Itisnotenoughtocarrytheconcentratedawarenessawayfromoutwardthings:itmustthenbekeptthere.Thisalsoishard,becausealltendenciesrebelatfirst.
176Hisattentionmustbeabsoluteandperfectifitistobeeffectualandcreativeinproducingthisresult.
177Concentrationrequiresacapacityforcontinuousattention.
178Attentionmustnotwaver,thoughtmustnotwander.Thisistheideal,ofcourse,andisnotapproached,letalonereached,untilafterlongpractice.
179
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 19/26
Tokeeptheattentionawayfromanyotherthanthechosensubjectistheworkofthisfirststage.Thebetterthisissustained,thedeeperisthepenetrationintothesubject.
180Whateverdistractsattentionopenlyandviolently,likethepassionsorsubtlyandinsidiously,likecuriosityorpreoccupiesitwithcaresandanxieties,likebusiness,islikelytointerferewiththemindduringpracticesessionseitherinconcentrationorexaltation.
181Againandagainhewillhavetocollecthisthoughtsandbringhisattentiontothecentralpoint.
182SomeoftheoldBuddhistmonks,thehistoriessay,reachedsamadhisimplybysteadfastgazinguponthefloor.
183Allthatliesonthemarginofattentionmayremainthere.
184Thereisnodoubtthat,initsearlyphases,theartofmeditationmakesdemandsformoreconcentrationthanmostpersonspossess,thattheysoontireunlesstheirenthusiasmcontinues.
185Fixingthegazeuponaspotmarkedonawalloranobjectnearorfar,isonlyapreliminarytofixingthemindonathought.
186Whenconsciousnessisdeliberatelyturnedawayfromtheworldanddirectedinwardtoitself,andwhenthisconditionissteadilymaintainedbyapurifiedperson,theresultisarealone.
187Thestageofconcentrationisevaluatedashavingbeenestablishedwhenitcanbesustainedlongenoughtoletattentionbecomesufficientlyabstractedfromsurroundings,sufficientlyabsorbedinthementalobject,andforthepracticeitselftobeeasy,unhindered,attractive.
188Toachievethiskindofconcentrationwhereattentioniswithdrawnfromtheouterworldandheldtightlyinitself,adeterminedattitudeisneededofnotstoppinguntilthissharplypointedstateisreached.Allotherthoughtsarerejectedintheverymomentthattheyarise.IfatthestartthereisaspirationanddevotiontowardtheOverself,andinthecourseoftheefforttoo,theneventuallythestressfallsawayandtheStillnessreplacesit.
189Hewhoisunwillingtoendureconcentrationsustainedtothepointoffatiguewillnotbeabletopenetratetothedeeplevelwheretruthabides.Butwhenhedoessucceed,thefatiguevanishes,anintenseexhilarationreplacesit.
190Whenheisgoingtopractiseanyexercisewhethermysticalorphysicalhismindshouldbethoroughlyconcentratedonitandnotonanythingelse.Allthoughtandenergyshouldgointoit,ifitistobesuccessfullydone.
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 20/26
191Whenconcentrationattainsitseffectivestate,theevertossingmentalwavessubsideandtheemotionalperturbationsbecomestill.Thisisthepsychologicalmomentwhenthemysticnaturallyfeelsexaltation,peace,andsuperearthliness.Butitisalsothepsychologicalmomentwhen,ifheiswise,heshouldturnawayfromrevellinginpersonalsatisfactionatthisachievementand,penetratingyetdeeper,strivetounderstandtheinnercharacterofthesourcewhencethesefeelingsarise,strivetounderstandpureMind.
192Tobringhisscatteredthoughtstoheel,togiveundividedattentiontotheintuitivefeelingwhichwouldleadtothesecretspiritualselfthisisthefirsttask.
193Ifitistoprofithim,thestudentmustnotallowhismeditationtobecomenebulousandvague.
194Thewill,drivingtheattentiontoafinepinpointofconcentration,sinksthroughlayerafterlayerofthemindtillitreachesthenoblest,thewisest,andthehappiestofthemall.
195Itwouldbeaseriouserrortobelievethatheistocontinuewithanyparticularexerciseorchosentheme,withanyspecialdeclarationoranalysisorquestion,nomatterwhathappensinthecourseofasession.Onthecontraryifatanymomenthefeelstheonsetofdeeperfeelings,orstrongeraspirations,ornotablepeace,heoughttostoptheexerciseorabandonthemethodandgivehimselfupentirelytotheinteriorvisitant.Heoughttohavenohesitationandnofearinconsideringhimselffreetodoso.
196Whenthisgentleinwardpullisfelt,concentrateallattention,allfeeling,andalldesireuponit.Giveyourselfuptoit,foryouarereceivingavisitationfromtheLord,andthemoreyoudoso,thecloserHewillcome.
197Thisisthestageofadoration,whentheOverself'sbeautyandtranquillitybegintotakepossessionofhisheart.Heshouldthenceasefromanyfurtherthinkingdiscursivelyaboutitorcommuningverballywithit.Itisatimeforcompleteinnersilence.Lethimengagehimselfsolelyinbeholding,loving,andeventuallyunitingwiththegracioussourceofthesefeelings.
198Thereisadistinctfeelingofsomethinglikeavalveopeningintheregionoftheheart.
199Whenthatdelicatefeelingcomesoverhim,heshouldholdontoitwithallhisconcentrativenessandallhiscollectedness.
200Thereisacrucialtimeinthemeditationsessionwhenthemeditatorgoesintoreverseasitwereinsteadofintensifyinghisattentionontheideaorobject,imagery,orsound,heletsgoinsurrenderandrests.Butitisnotarestinegocentricity.AllhasbeenhandedovertothehigherSelftowhomhenowfeelsclose.Onlyatthispointisheconcentrated,calm,ready,andreceptivetotheDivinity.
201Themomenthefeelsthebeginningsofanymovementtowardstheindrawingofthought
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 21/26
andfeelingawayfromexternals,heshouldatoncerespondtoitandletattentionfalldeeperanddeeperintohimself,evenifforonlyfiveminutes.ThisisimportantbecauseofthecurrentsofGracewhicharebeingtelepathicallytransmittedtohiminfulfilmentoftheexistingrelationship.
202IfheiswillingtosubmittotheOverself'sgentledrawing,hemustfirstbeabletorecognizeitforwhatitis.
203Thesensationofbeingdrawngentlyinsidewillbefelt.
204Heistopushattentionfromoutsidehimselftoinside.Heisthentopushawayextraneousthoughtswhileheconcentratesonthefeelingsearchforhisinnermostself.
205Betterthananyotherpracticeisthisdeepinsearching.
206Consciousnessmustfocusitselfinwarduponascertainingitsownsourcetotheexclusionofeverythingelse.
207Themoreheinternalizeshisattention,andthelessherespondstothesenseimpressions,thenearerhedrawstothespiritualpresenceinhisheart.
208ThedivineatomisthatpartofthebodywithwhichtheOverselfismostdirectlyassociated,andthatiswhyitisplacedintheheart,butofcourse,theOverselfisassociatedwiththewholebody.Thereisascientificexplanationwhytheheartisthespiritualcentreofthebodyandwhythebrainisthementalcentre,andthisisgiveninTheWisdomoftheOverself.
209Hisdetermined,onepointedattentionkeepsgoingdowndeeperanddeeperintohisownbeing.
Varietiesofpractice
210Therearevariouspracticalmethodsofachievingthecombinedaimofrememberingthedivineandconcentratingonthedivine.Mantramrepetitionisoneofthem.Theyaremostlyelementaryandwellsuitedtoaspirantswhoareatanearlystageofdevelopment.Buttheseaspirantscannotstaytherealways.Thetimecomeswhentheymustseekandstruggleforahigherstage.Fullenlightenmentcancomeonlytothefullydeveloped.
211Althoughtherearesomegeneralfeaturescommontomosttechniques,thereisalsoineachcasesomethingwhichispersonallyneededtosuittheparticulartemperament,character,andstatus.
212Eachmethodismerelyapointofdeparture,notaplaceorarrival.Itisafocussingof
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 22/26
thoughtsuponaspecialobjectorsubjectwithaviewtotravellinglaterbeyondallthoughtsintothestageofcontemplation.
213Mostofthesetechniquesarepreliminary,intendedtobringthemindintoonepointedconcentration.Theydonotleadtotherealenlightenment.
214Thereisnoobjectiontoelementarymethodsoflearningtoconcentrate,thatis,tomantram,affirmation,andbreathcontrolprovideditisrecognizedthattheyareelementaryandthereforehavetheirlimitations.Butwhen,asissooftenthecase,thisisnotknown,notunderstood,ornotthoughttobecorrect,thenillusionsanddeceptionsarefostered.Oneoftheillusionsisthatenlightenment,Truth,reality,hasbeenattained.Oneofthedeceptionsisthatthistechniqueisallthatneedstobedone.
215Wehavetriedtoformulatemethodsandtoadaptexerciseswhichwillenablethemodernmantocomeintothistranscendentalconsciousnesswithoutdesertingtheworldandwithoutbecomingavotaryofasceticism.
216Itisavaluableexerciseforthosewhoarerepelledbyallexercises,toreachbackinmemoryandimagination,insurrenderandlove,tosomegrandraremomentofmysticalinsight.Theywillnotberepelledbythisone,foritissosimplethatitcanhardlybeclassifiedamongtheexercises.Andyetitis,withavalueimmenselydisproportionatetoitssimplicity.
217Thestudentshouldnotfeelboundtofollowrigidlyadevotionalmeditationalprogramlaiddown,asitneedsmustbe,ongenerallinestosuitavarietyofpeople.Heshouldfeelfreetoexpresshisindividualitybyimprovisingadditionsoralterationsinitshouldastrongpromptingtodosocometohim.
218Alltheserulesandsuggestionsareforbeginners.Intheendhewillhavetolearntobeabletopractiseinanyplaceandatanytime.
219Lethimexperimentwithmanydifferentexercisesandsolearnwhichonessuithimbestandhelphimmost.
220Allthesemethodsaresimplymechanicaldevicesforthrowingtheconsciousmindoutofgear.
221Noneoftheelementarymethodsofyogasuchasbreathcontrolandmantramleadtoapermanentcontrolofthemind,buttheypreparethewayandmakeiteasiertotakeupthosepracticeswhichdoleadtosucharesult.
222Sofarasmeditationisaffectedbytheirhiddenoperation,thetendenciesdrawonepersonbyonewayandothersbyanother.Thereisnosingleroad.Thosewhofailtoadvancein,orareunattractedby,discursivemeditation,mayusemantrams,symbols,andformsinstead.
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 23/26
223WhethertheseekerusesaTibetanmandala(spirituallysymbolicpicture)toconcentrateon,oranIndianmantram(continuousmentalormutteredrepetitionofaverbalformula),theendresultwillbeanindrawnstateofconsciousness,abstractedfromtheoutsideworld,orelseadeeperandmoresustainedremembranceofGod.Liketheotheryogamethods,theyaredevicestoachieveonepointednessofmind.
224Whenselectinganexerciseforpracticeitiswelltobeginwithonethatcomeseasiesttohim.
225Anewexercise,theme,orpracticeinmeditationwillnaturallyneedmoretimethananoldfamiliarone.
226ThemethodoftheMaharishiMaheshYogicannotleadtoenlightenmentbytruth,butitcanleadtoaverypleasurabletemporaryquietingofthemind.
227Explanationsoftheyogicchakras:Heshouldtreatthemforjustwhattheyare,pointsinthephysicalbodyuponwhichtoconcentratethemind.Asheprogressesinwardly,hemovesuptothenexthigherchakrabutthiskindofconcentrationyogaisnotordinarilyrecommended.Itbelongstoaspecialyogawhichseekstheawakeningofthespiritfireandthatisariskyundertaking.
228InTibetanBuddhistinitiationsofcertainschools,themasteruseshissceptretotouchthosecentreswhicharespeciallysensitivetoreceivethemysticpowerheistransmittingamongthem.Aftertouchingtheheadandbreast,theimportanceofthenervecentreatthenapeoftheneckisrecognizedbyreceivingthethirdtouch.
229Aftersomepractice,hewilllessandlessconsciouslythinkofthetechniqueandmoreandmoreinstinctivelyfollowit.
230Themostbalancedprocedureistoalterthethemesandexercisesfromtimetotimetomeetthedifferentrequirementsofhisallrounddevelopmentaswellasthedifferentintuitiveurgesandpassingmoodswhichmaymanifestthemselves.
231Theadvocacyofmeditationinanonspiritualmedicopsychologicalformwouldprobablymeetthesituationofanumberofindividuals.However,thereoughttobe,sidebysideandalongwithit,anotherefforttoadvocatemeditationinareligiousandaspirationalformforthesakeofotherindividualswhoarereadytoemergefromnarroworthodoxy,butstillwishtokeeptheirreligiousfaith.Inbothcases,itisnecessarytopointoutthatallkindsofmeditationmustbesafeguardedbysomeeffortatselfpurificationandatstrengtheningintellectualbalance.Otherwiseitmaydoharmaswellasgood.
232Eventhelargerangeofpossiblemeditationsuponspiritualprinciples,mentalideas,imaginedpicturesandphysicalobjectsdoesnotexhaustthelist.Hemayusehisownbody,too.Thegazemaybeconcentratedbetweentheeyebrows,downthenose,oruponthenavel.Theprocessofbreathingmaybecloselywatched.
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 24/26
233Theinstructionsanddirectionswhichareoffirstimportancemustbeseparatedfromthosewhicharemerelysecondinimportance,orconfusionwillresult.
234Discussionofthemethodsofmeditation,andcriticalscrutinyofitsnatureandresultscanonlybeofvalue,ifnotofinterest,tothehandfulofinitiateswhohavepractisedoneofthemethodsandexperiencedsomeoftheresults.Allotherswillbedependentonwhattheyhaveheardorreadaboutmeditation.Tothemsuchdiscussionandsuchscrutinywillbeeitherincomprehensibleorunprofitableorbewildering.
235Acontinuousringingoflargeheavyoldchurchbells,ifintentlyconcentratedupon,mayproduceinapersonappreciativeofthemusicinthem,asuitablestartingpointforintrovertingattention.
236Themethodsusedtoinducethisabsorbedtrancelikestatehavebeenasmanyastheyarevaried,fromtheloudbulllikeroarsofthePasupatayogistotheaestheticwhirlingsoftheMevlevidervishes.
237Thewitchdoctorwho,orwhoseassistant,beatsoutarhythmonhisdrumaccomplishesaconcentrationofmindalullingofthesensesandarecessionfromtheworldforhishearers,toafartherextentthantheywouldhavebeenabletoaccomplishforthemselvesalone.
238Thereareexerciseswhichleadtothishigherconsciousness.Bythepowerofwilltheyconcentrateattentionbypursuinganelevatedtopictheybringthelattertomeditationbypatientlyandperseverantlydroppingthewillwhichservedsowell,theyattainthestillnessofcontemplation.
239Someofthesetechniquesmakethemindnumbandthusarrestthinking:theyarenotonlyveryelementarybutalsoinferior.Butfornumbersofpeopletheyaretheeasiestwaysandthemostresultful.Theyhavetobeusedbysuchpersonsassteppingstones,notaspermanenthomes.
240Therearevariouswaysusedbyvariousseekersofputtingtheconsciousmindoutofordinaryaction.Thewayofthosedervisheswhotwirlaroundontheirfeetand,atthesametime,spinaroundinalargercircle,isoneofthem.Theyeventuallygetvertigoandfalltotheground.Theyswoon,andthereaftermaygetaglimpse.
241Thetrueinneruseofthekoaniscorrectandlaudable.Themistakeistomakeitspracticeacauseofanxietyandstress.No.Itshoulddevelopsmoothly,thinkingharmoniouslyandevenlogically,andthusreachtheinevitablerecognitionthatintellectcangonofurther.Sotheintellectstopsworking,resignsitself,andlo,actsnomore(WuWeiinaction).Themanthenwaitspatientlyandpeacefullyandacceptantly.Theresultisnolongerinhishands.Itmustbenowentrustedtohigherpower.
242Wheremeditationusesthoughtsorimageslogicalsequentialthoughts,orsymbolicalorrealisticimagesitisstilltheworkofthemanhimselfandthereforewithintheego.
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 25/26
243Astowhethermeditationshouldbeginwithmentalconcentrationormentalstillness,eachpracticeisadvisableatdifferenttimesorduringdifferentphasesofone'sdevelopment.Inthecourseofayear,thestudentmaydevotehisworkduringsomemonthstobeginningwiththefirstandduringothermonthswiththesecond.Itisnotpossibletogeneralizeaboutwhichoneisbetterduringanyparticularperiodthisdependsentirelyonindividualcircumstances.Thebestwaytofindoutistomakeanimpersonalselfexamination,andthenfollowone'sownintuition.
244ThecreatoroftheOrderofWhirlingDervishesusedthegyratorymovementsanddanceconcentrations,withreedpipemusicalaccompaniments,tobringthemintothemysticalexperience.Thisispossiblebecausebodyandmindreactuponeachother.Toalesserextentbutinadifferentway,thesameprincipleisusedinhathayoga.Bothmethodsareintendedtoreachandawakenpeoplewhowouldfindthesolelymental,physicallyimmobilemeditationtoodifficult.
245Theycomplainaboutthenoiseoutsidetheirmeditationroombutthenoiseoftheiregoinsideitislouder.Theirtechniquesareusefulandpreparatorybutunlessaccompaniedorfollowedbydiscrimination,knowledge,understanding,theyfailtorootouttheego,onlylullingitandtyingthemtotheespousedsystem,dogma,orcredo.
246Thedifferentyogasaretransitoryphaseswhichtheseekermustdevelopandthenoutgrow.
247Thosewhofeeltheneedofoutwardritualandsacramentalserviceshouldsatisfyit,butthosewhofindsimplemeditationwithnothingaddedmoreattractivemayprogressintheirownway.
248Ifsomeofthedisciplinesarenolongerpracticalundertheconditionsofpresentdayliving,othersarestilluseful.
249Thewellknownhelpstoconcentrationsuchasrosaries,mandalas,geometricaldiagrams,candleflamesinthedarkness,and,mostpopularofall,amantrammaybeusedbybeginnersbuttheyarenotnecessarytofairlyadvancedstudents.
250Techniqueshouldsuittemperament.
251Thereisavailableforusallatechnicalmethodinwhichmaybefoundthemeanstoachievetherefulgentmoodsofmysticalinspiration.
252Itisneitherrightorwrongtotrytosuppressthoughtsinmeditationexercises:whatmattersistofitwhatisattemptedtotheparticularobjectoftheparticularexercise.Sotherearetimestoletthoughtsmoveandtimestoreinthemin.
253Thepracticeoftratak[continuousgazing]isintendedtomaketheyogiblindtoexternalscenesbyattendingtoasingleobjectthepracticeofshabdayogaisintendedtorender
-
14/5/2015 Fundamentals - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/4/3 26/26
himdeaftoexternalsoundsbyattendingtoasinglesoundandwithsightsandsoundscutoff,heiswellnighcutofffromthewholeexternalworld.Thusthesesystemsofyogaarenootherthantechniquesforinducingaconcentratedinwardturnedstate.
254DalaiLamaonTibetantantra:"YoupushupForcethroughspinethenleanbackwardmentallytomeetit."
255Tothealternativesofthinkingwiththeheadandthinkingwiththeheart,theJapaneseZenmasteroffersathirdchoice:"Thinkwiththeabdomen,"headvisesthepractiserofkoanmeditationexercises.TheTibetanTantrikmastersofferevenafourthchoice:"Thinkwiththegenerativeorganandsublimateitsfeelings."TheAdvaitaVedantinsgostillfarther."Thinkquiteabstractly,notofthebodyatall,"theycounsel.Shouldallthisnotshowthatnomethodisofexclusiveimportance?
256TheEasternChurchused,amongotherHesychasticmethodsofmakingmeditationmoresuccessful,thepressingofthechinagainstthechest.
257OnceaprofessoratleadingIndianuniversities,andthenonattainmentofindependenceaministerintheIndiangovernment,thelateRadhakumudMukerjeewasacodiscipleofthesameguruwhosentYogananda,founderofS.R.F.,toAmerica!Oncewhenwemeditatedtogether,Mukerjeeswayedashesat,movingheadandshouldersfromlefttorightinacircularfashion.Atfirstthisrotationwasquiteslow,butitpickedupalittlespeedasitwenton.
258VoodoomusiciansandAfricanwitchdoctorsusetherhythmicbeatingofdrumstoinduceeitherthetrancestateoremotionalcrescendos.
259Thedesertfathers,theEgyptianeremites,havetheirIndianequivalents.Meditationwithoutphilosophy,withoutinstruction,withoutknowledge,produceswidelyandstrangelydifferentresultsindifferentpeople.
260Someoftheseoldyogaswerecurious,somealluring,andothershorrible.Thusonerequiredhimtolethisbodyenterregularlyintosexualintercoursebuttothinkallthetimeabouttheact'sanimaluglinessandevilconsequences.Hewastodothisuntilthesightofanakedfemalebodyarousedrevulsion,itswhitegleaminglimbsseemedmorehideousthanattractive,anditsinvitationtocoitusfilledhimwithdisgust.Anothermethodrequiredhimtositonafreshcorpseinthepitchdarknessofacemeteryatmidnightandthinksolelyofthequalityoffearlessness.TheseapparentlywereIndianversionsoftheattempttotakethekingdomofheavenbyviolence.InBengalandTibettheyarestillpractisedbysomefanatics.Yetmoreaspirantsarelikelytofailwiththemthansucceed.Intheoneyoga,suchfailureswouldresultingreatersensualitythanbeforeandintheotheringreaterfearthanbefore.Neverthelesstheireffectivenessmaybegranted.But,weask,isitnotbetterforcivilizedmodernseekerstousemorerefinedandlessdrasticmethods?
TheNotebooksarecopyright19841989,ThePaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundation.